Electric Power

In support of ICASA's mission to solve critical infrastructure
protection problems, the Electric Power team focuses on two research areas:
1) understanding fundamental behavior and vulnerabilities between power system
components as they interact through the network, and 2) developing means by
which precursors to large failures can be detected and their impact
mitigated. Key elements of the research are modeling and simulation of electric
power systems as hybrid dynamical systems, and analysis methods founded in control
and systems theory.

Hybrid dynamical system models provide the framework through
which the two fundamentally different, yet joined, electric power system functions
can be represented: 1) the network of interconnected dynamic components (generators,
loads, controllers, transmission lines, etc.) responsible for power delivery
and 2) the logical switching (breakers, load-tap changers, saturation, etc.)
responsible for power quality and safety. Resulting models are of varied, user-selected
resolution and form a set of switched differential-algebraic equations that
are solved numerically through computer simulation. Computer simulation permits
transient responses, component interactions, and global responses. System studies
are cast within an “input-output” systems/control theory context
where the influence of inputs and parameters on particular outputs is quantified
through linear and nonlinear dynamical system analysis techniques. Implications
of these studies include identification and level of interaction among components,
and estimation of grid status and states from limited measurements. Point of Contact: Dr.
Kevin Wedeward

“SCADA/EMS and Vulnerability Analysis,” Presentation at the Military Operations Research Society Workshop on Transforming Information Assurance for Netcentric Operations, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, March 2007

“Electric Power System Modeling, Simulation and Analysis: Applications of Nonlinear Optimization to System Identification,” Presentation at the 75th Military Operations Research Society Symposium, Annapolis, MD, June 2007.